Lynnwood men to get heroism award

Two Lynnwood men are expected to get heroism awards Monday night for their work saving a woman from an apartment fire.

Abraham Makonnen was taking out the trash July 24 when he saw his apartment building was on fire. He grabbed a fire extinguisher and woke his neighbor, Patrick Bennett.

The pair pounded on doors and woke neighbors. The woman inside the unit where the fire started was very disoriented, Lynnwood Fire Department Lt. Keith Shaw said in a statement.

The men pulled her out of the apartment and extinguished the bedroom fire.

Fire investigators found power to the apartment had been turned off for lack of payment and the resident removed the smoke alarm because she said it was making too much noise. She was using candles for light.

Investigators believe that the woman, who recently moved the United States, didn’t realize the detector would beep when the battery needs to be replaced.

Shaw and Lynnwood Fire Chief Gary Olson said in a news release that the woman would have died in her bed if not for the men’s efforts.

Fire officials plan to present the men with Awards of Merit Monday night at the 7 p.m. Lynnwood City Council meeting.